Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Westport’s Board of Finance tonight took its first crack at First Selectman Jim Marpe’s proposed 2014-15 $78.5 million municipal operating budget, a 3.1 percent increase, focusing on the Police, Fire and Public Works department requests.

And one of the budgets—Public Works Director Stephen Edwards’ proposed $9,262,746 for next year—left finance board members smiling. It represents a 1.4 percent decrease from the current year’s $9,394,387.

Edwards attributed the drop to more cost efficient ways of solid waste disposal, building maintenance and contracting an outside custodian.